Red BAMX Expands Food Recovery Model Across Mexico

More than 30Mt of edible food is wasted in Mexico each year, equivalent to two trailer loads every minute, while 44 million people face food insecurity. To address this gap, the Mexican Food Bank Network (Red BAMX), a network of 60 food banks nationwide, partnered with Grupo Farrera to implement To the Rescue, a logistics model that recovers surplus food for redistribution.

The program currently recovers more than 180 million kg of food annually, benefiting 2.5 million people living in vulnerable conditions. According to Mariana Jiménez, Director General, Red BAMX, the initiative operates primarily in Chiapas and Mexico City, where it collaborates with establishments such as the restaurant Balcón del Zocalo.

By the end of this year, Red BAMX plans to expand the model to Oaxaca, Quintana Roo, Tabasco, Yucatan and Veracruz, where Grupo Farrera has operations. The expansion is part of the organization’s Agenda 2030, which aims to reduce food waste by 50% across all regions where the company is present.

Strategic alliances with hotels and restaurants play a key role in achieving this goal. Jiménez explained that the initiative goes beyond surplus recovery by helping businesses identify critical control points in their supply chains to prevent waste from the outset. Red BAMX also provides training to improve food handling and reduce losses from production through consumption.

Environmental sustainability is another focus of the project. Jiménez noted that when food is discarded, it becomes a source of greenhouse gas emissions, particularly methane, which is responsible for about 20% of global emissions and has 86 times the heat-trapping potential of carbon dioxide. Through its recovery efforts, the program seeks to reduce both social vulnerability and environmental impact.

Jiménez emphasized that while To the Rescue supports millions of people and diverts significant amounts of food from landfills, it only addresses part of a broader national challenge. She encouraged greater public awareness and participation in food recovery initiatives to reduce waste, support communities, and mitigate climate change.